Saturday, September 10, 2016

How To Speak Like A Maritimer

Coming from away (CFA), I've been observing nuances in the different saying and accents of the Maritimes (the New Bruswick, Nova Scotia, & Prince Edward Island area in Canada).

Here's a few techniques to embrace or avoid depending on how much you want to fit in around this part of Canada.

1. ADD AN "S" TO THE END OF "WHERE"- to say something like, "I live somewheres around here." Use it like "Somewheres," "anywheres," "nowheres," "everywheres," etc.

2. WHEN PRONOUNCING "SORRY" say it like "Soar-ee" instead of "Saur-ee" or "Sawr-ee." This could similarly apply to your pronunciation of boat.

3. APOLOGIZE & SAY YOUR SORRY A LOT- If someone bumps into you, say "sorry". If you have the possibility of offending someone or misspeaking or interrupt, say "sorry". Just say "sorry" in most of your interactions.

4. TALK ABOUT THE WEATHER (as the typical conversation starter)

5. ADD "SOME" OR "RIGHT" before something your describing- "That was some good meal" or "You got that done right quick." "It's right foggy today."

6. BREATH IN A SILENT "YEAH"OR GASP in agreement or in the middle of conversation. This is sometimes known as the"Gaelic Gasp" or inhale in replace of yes.

7. PRONOUNCE YOUR T's FULLY, ALMOST LIKE A BREATH AT THE END OF A WORD. with words like "but" or "boat"

8. DON'T PRONOUNCE YOUR T's AT OTHER TIMES. Don't Pronounce T's on other words like "muddin," which is when you take your truck or vehicle out in the mud to potentially get stuck.

9. SOMETIMES THROW IN A "EH" but not as often is stereotyped in American media.

10. ON PEI YOU CAN TRY OUT SLANG LIKE SLIPPY/ PADADERS- "slippy" instead of "slippery," and "pa-day-ders" for potatoes.

11. EMBRACE ACTIVE LISTENING BY SAYING "YEAAAAAH, YAH, YAH." (throughout a conversation while
listening in conversational agreement or a sense of togetherness)